n, in addition to this, their immense "mops" of
bright golden hair--dyed that colour by the application of lime--and
their wonderfully tatooed bodies, with the first intricate lines
beginning at the waist and ending at the knees, accentuated the velvety
and rich reddish brown of their skins. Each of the Chileno seamen still
carried a brace of pistols in his belt and a cutlass hung by his side,
but the natives apparently took no notice of such a manifestation of
distrust, and they and the mutineers exchanged cigars and cigarettes as
if they were the best friends in the world.

Suddenly the rain fell, and all other sounds were deadened by the
downpour; it continued for three-quarters of an hour, and then, as
Frewen remarked, ceased with a "snap."

In the main cabin Raymond, with Malie, was seated at the table talking
to Ryan; on the poop and under the shelter of the temporary awning
were Cheyne, Frewen, Foster, the ruffianly Rivas, and two other of the
Ghileno seamen, with three of the natives who had accompanied Cheyne and
his Mend from Lepa.

Five minutes before eight bells Foster turned to Rivas, and, speaking in
Spanish, told him to go for'ard and tell the hands that there would be
no watch below that night, all hands were to stay on deck till daylight.

Frewen gave Cheyne a glance, and the half-caste sauntered off after
Rivas, whilst the three Samoans moved nearer towards the two Ghilenos.

"Mr. Foster" went to the skylight and looked down into the cabin at the
clock, which was placed so that it could be seen by any one standing
beside the binnacle. Then he looked at a handsome gold watch, which two
days previously had been in Villari's vest pocket, and, stepping to the
break of the poop, called out--

"Eight bells!"

The big bell under the topgallant foc'sle sent out its deep, sonorous
clang, and as the last note was struck, "Mr. Foster" went over on his
back with a crash, and in another five seconds Frewen had turned him
over on his face and was lashing his hands behind him. The Greek was too
stunned to even try to speak, and when he came to again he found lying
beside him Rivas and the other two Ghileno sailors, with half a dozen
Samoans standing guard over them.

Down in the cabin Raymond and Malie had been equally as quick, and when
Frewen and Cheyne came below they found "Captain" Ryan, together with
the Chileno who was acting as steward, tied hand and foot and lying
outside Captain Maraton's stateroom